PHILADELPHIA -- Welcome to another edition of "how the hell did this guy get a title shot?" On March 15, streaming live on DAZN, Tevin Farmer will defend his IBF junior lightweight title against Jono Carroll. While Carroll is ranked fourth by the IBF he isn't ranked in the top 15 by the WBC, WBA, or WBO. So how exactly did Carroll get this title shot? The short answer is that this is boxing and nothing makes sense.
Farmer (28-4-1, 6 KOs) is a slick southpaw, currently riding a 21-fight win streak. Despite not having much power Farmer often fights like a man with heavier fists. He likes to get in the pocket and attack the body and has shown a nice right hook along with an accurate straight left hand. What allows the light-hitting Farmer to sit in the pocket is his skilled defense, which often frustrates his opponents. The Philadelphia native also puts his combinations together nicely and really loves to stay on top of his opponents.
In Farmer's first 12 career fights he went 7-4-1 which would have sent his career into boxing purgatory. He never packed it in though and let his record reflect how he felt as a fighter. It has now been seven years since Farmer lost a fight and that came against the talented and much bigger Jose Pedraza. In recent years Farmer has beaten the likes of Ivan Redkach, Billy Dib, and James Tennyson. He has also spent the last couple of years loudly calling for a unification fight against fellow 130 pound champion, Gervonta Davis. Before a fight with Davis can ever happen though Farmer will need to take care of business against Carroll in the third defense of his IBF title.
Carroll (16-0, 3 KOs) is also a southpaw with little power and he's somehow been allowed to box with a lumberjack beard. Usually beards as thick as Carroll's have to be shaved off or trimmed before a fight. Hailing from Ireland, Carroll has quick hands and a good up and down jab. He has also shown a nice right hook to the body and left hand upstairs but he doesn't cut the ring off very well and is often flat footed. Carroll's footwork isn't great and he will bend at the waist to slip punches but defense is an afterthought for him as he loves to be on the attack.
March 15 will mark Carroll's first fight in the United States and his first shot at a world title. He hasn't yet faced any top opponents and is coming off a draw in his last fight in late 2018. It's a bit perplexing as to how a guy who has yet to face an elite opponent and who fought to a draw in his last fight got this title shot but boxing can be a perplexing sport. A win over Farmer wouldn't just give Carroll his first world title belt, it would also be his first win over a big name opponent and would certainly raise his profile.
This should be a fun fight simply because both Farmer and Carroll like to let their hands go. Both fighters will look to get inside and land to the body which could make this a phone booth fight. The big difference will be defense. Farmer is a slick defensive fighter and is adept at slipping punches on the inside. Carroll isn't terrible defensively but he doesn't use his feet as much and should get caught more than Farmer in this fight. Both guys will look to land to the body early and often but since neither have top tier power, look for this fight to go the distance.
PREDICTION: Tevin Farmer and Jono Carroll will both have moments of success in this fight. Carroll will certainly win rounds but he won't win enough of them to take the title from the champion. Farmer is just too slick defensively to lose to Carroll who is more one dimensional. Farmer will give up some rounds but he will still come away with the comfortable unanimous decision win.
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| Farmer, attacking the body of Francisco Fonseca |
In Farmer's first 12 career fights he went 7-4-1 which would have sent his career into boxing purgatory. He never packed it in though and let his record reflect how he felt as a fighter. It has now been seven years since Farmer lost a fight and that came against the talented and much bigger Jose Pedraza. In recent years Farmer has beaten the likes of Ivan Redkach, Billy Dib, and James Tennyson. He has also spent the last couple of years loudly calling for a unification fight against fellow 130 pound champion, Gervonta Davis. Before a fight with Davis can ever happen though Farmer will need to take care of business against Carroll in the third defense of his IBF title.
Carroll (16-0, 3 KOs) is also a southpaw with little power and he's somehow been allowed to box with a lumberjack beard. Usually beards as thick as Carroll's have to be shaved off or trimmed before a fight. Hailing from Ireland, Carroll has quick hands and a good up and down jab. He has also shown a nice right hook to the body and left hand upstairs but he doesn't cut the ring off very well and is often flat footed. Carroll's footwork isn't great and he will bend at the waist to slip punches but defense is an afterthought for him as he loves to be on the attack.
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| Carroll, celebrating a victory |
This should be a fun fight simply because both Farmer and Carroll like to let their hands go. Both fighters will look to get inside and land to the body which could make this a phone booth fight. The big difference will be defense. Farmer is a slick defensive fighter and is adept at slipping punches on the inside. Carroll isn't terrible defensively but he doesn't use his feet as much and should get caught more than Farmer in this fight. Both guys will look to land to the body early and often but since neither have top tier power, look for this fight to go the distance.
PREDICTION: Tevin Farmer and Jono Carroll will both have moments of success in this fight. Carroll will certainly win rounds but he won't win enough of them to take the title from the champion. Farmer is just too slick defensively to lose to Carroll who is more one dimensional. Farmer will give up some rounds but he will still come away with the comfortable unanimous decision win.
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